To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.
1 Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth;
For the faithful fail from among the children of men.
2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour:
With flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips,
And the tongue that speaketh proud things:
4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail;
Our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
5 For the oppression of the poor,
For the sighing of the needy,
Now will I arise, saith the LORD;
I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
6 The words of the LORD are pure words:
As silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD,
Thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
8 The wicked walk on every side,
When the vilest men are exalted.